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Double Bass Deuce Alumatone Bridge

#41
Brad_Pearson said:
Well the metal is hollow on V1 and there really isn't much on the CNC'd V2. They also supposedly weigh less than a normal bridge.
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They are said to weigh 6 ounces. A Despiau bridge with aluminium adjusters is less than 4 ounces. The one I put on my wife's Rauner yesterday weighed 99 grams, ie 3.53 ounces.
 
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#44
I have one of the new CNC'd D2 Deuce Bridges. They are great. I also had the first, welded version. Acoustically they both made my German carved top 1989 bass louder, punchier and better note definition. My band mates at an acoustic rehearsal love it because they can hear me better. When my Barbera system crapped out, I bought a Rev Solo II pickup, but these pickups do not work well with the Deuce Bridge, so I sold the welded one. However, when I came to the conclusion that the Rev Solo II is just too fiddly for my taste (with my wooden bridge), I junked it and purchased the new CNC'd Deuce and the Zac Victor wing pickup that Deuce also sells. Now we're cooking! This is a great combination, for me anyway. Probably not really of interest to a classical player, but I play in several bands of differing genres, jazz and swing, Americana, country and blues, and it works for me. An added bonus is the new star adjusters make on-the-fly height adjustments real easy, and the bass foot being parallel to the bass bar gives the bridge better stability if the bass gets knocked during transportation.
 
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#45
Lets just say that I have installed a few of these and I'm in no rush to swap out the existing Despiau on my personal basses for what I am trying to accomplish musically. That said, they are my #1 recommendation on vintage aluminum basses. All of my interactions with the fellow who makes them have been A+ and he is constantly improving and experimenting with the design; I wish him well and success.

j.
www.condino.com
www.kaybassrepair.com
 
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#47
Nekroman said:
FYI they just released a new version...this one is weld-free and the weld experts on here would need something else to complain about.
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Well...I'm nationally certified as a welding inspector, and have held this product in my hands. Those welds are OK, for GTAW Aluminum welding. That is just what that process usually looks like.

Do I think the aesthetic is attractive? Not a good question. I am also a traditionalist, and have a difficult time appreciating modern art, let alone a bass bridge that looks like...this.

That being said, I am currently installing one for a customer, and am finding it interesting. There seem to be some advantages, in terms of fitting.
 
#48
Nekroman said:
I wouldn't perform in front of an audience with your ugly capo but will proudly show off my Deuce Bridge any day.QUOTE]

Wait you're saying that you wouldn't use one of the most practical, elegant, Low-C extension capos (plus they're affordable and sound like you have a finger down on the string)? This thread seems like it is going to go down the road of the Double Bass Luthier's page on Facespace
Click to expand...
 
#49
Interesting bridge & thread.

Stylistically the bridge is quite an outstep from tradition, which may be a problem for some. Aesthetics are subjective. Nevertheless I know some excellent instruments that are a comparable aesthetic outstep.

I too wonder what effect this bridge has on arco; can anyone post a link (or opinion)?

An obvious advantage is a much improved up-down stability, due to the orientation of the bass side foot on the bass bar. That, and the metal body, will greatly help stability in rough conditions and/or imperfect balance, to the benefit of sound quality.
 
#51
I've been thinking about trying a bow with my Alcoa, which also has the Deuce D1 bridge and the Deuce tailpiece. Jayson (Deuce Bass Co.) did the rescue/restoration/hot-rodding on mine while it was owned by my band's former bass player. During his work on it, Jayson brushed some acoustic dampening material over the inside back of the bass in an effort to get it sounding more like wood.

It has some sort of nylon/kevlar-core strings on it which actually sound good on this Alcoa when plucked, but I don't know what to expect with them being bowed... My Alcoa also has a dual pickup set on it (bridge and under-fingerboard mounted) which works in testing, but I currently don't expect to use it much, I'm more of an acoustic minded fellow.

I was noticing some bows for sale in classified, may have to try one out sometime.
 
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#52
So, I picked up a bow today. And some Pops. It's an inexpensive student bow, new, not anything fancy, but sufficient to make sound with. Also, almost a month ago I switched to SBW Deluxe strings. So I'm sort of learning and re-learning bowing on a new-to-me Alcoa bass with a number of interesting variations from the norm. The SBW Deluxe strings are playable with a bow, but rosin is absolutely necessary.

The volume and tone are actually pretty nice, but this Alcoa has had a lot done to it that subdues its natural metalic tone and makes it sound more "normal". Our band's bass player actually likes the sound of this Alcoa better than his wood bass. The Deuce 1 bridge does its job with arco, but it's the only bridge I've ever heard on this bass so I can't give any kind of A-B comparison.

I'm surprised at how hard it is to play arco while standing. I feel like I need a 3rd hand. I may have to sit on a stool while doing this.
 
#53
Don't try to hold the bass 100% vertical. Let it lean towards you and use the weight so that the bottom side of the upper bout pushes into your body. Then balance by position of you relative to the bass that the bass does not turn to one side or the other (or as best as you can). Since most of the time your left hand holds the bass enough that it doesn't drift to one side that should work. Try several distances and therefor angles of the bass falling inside you.
 
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#55
Thank you for the standing posture sugggestions... I'm trying them and they do help...

We just got back from doing a wedding and reception. Nice wedding... There were about 200 guests... This is with my main band, where I play 5-string banjo. My Aloca is preferred by our bass player (who is a really good player).

We played a number of songs for which he played arco (Canon in D, Simple Gifts, etc.) using the recently acquired new bow that I mentioned in the last post. He sounded great with both arco and piz... And the bass was plugged into the sound system, which is something new for us. All worked out great.

Judging from the way the Vic Victors piezos worked so well with the Deuce 1 bridge, I'd say that arco is completely feasable with the bridge and piezos -- and that was with the SBW Deluxe strings. The sound was also excellent acoustically, although we fed everything through the PA for this wedding gig.
 
#57
Got the bow, got the quiver, so I guess it's official, I'm learning arco...

4740.jpeg

Fun, new challenges...
 
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